Brandywine Red Tomato - size question

8 years ago

Hello,

I am growing this type for the first time, and was under the impression that these are usually larger (beefsteak) size? I planted out on May 30th and the plant looks like its doing really well, thick stem, good leaf growth etc. There are 2 bunches of 2-3 tomatoes on it, and it looks like they are starting to turn a white, but the size is not big at all - nowhere near beefsteak. See attached picture. Could this be related to watering? I try and water deep a couple of times a week and we have had a few hot days in the last few weeks recently. I fertilized during transplant and put a tablespoon of fertilizer a couple of times since then. There is a supersweet 100 next to it 3 ft apart, and cucumber vines on the other side - the cucumbers didn't really start growing until about 8-10 days ago, so its not like its competing for nutrients.

p.s. had to re-post this because my earlier attempt is not visible on the forum.

Featured Answer

digdirt2

8 years ago

There are many growing-condition factors that can affect fruit size. The variety genetics is just one of them. So one cannot assume any issues are from the variety strain itself.

As a very general guideline, yes, BW Red will produce beefsteak sized fruit in the 12-14 oz range on the first flushes. But then the fruit tend to get somewhat smaller as the plant ages.

Dave

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Comments (6)

ss1114
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the input guys. These are the first fruit that have showed up, and they look to be around the 7-8 oz size - slightly smaller or about the same size as the "on the vine" tomatoes sold in supermarkets.

In any case, I'm growing these more for taste than quantity or size, have read a lot about brandywine being one of the better tasting tomatoes. I have grown San Marzano and Rutgers tomatoes in the last 2 years, and am growing the San Marzano again this year along with Ramapo. Added a Super Sweet 100 as well, so my toddler can have some fun with cherry tomatoes. She likes tomatoes almost as much as I do!
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digdirt2
8 years ago
"Growing for taste..."

Not that your fruit will be poor tasting but please keep in mind that Brandywine Red isn't a true Brandywine. It is not the strain that is touted as best flavored tomato. B. Red is a mixed/crossed sub-strain that many will call mislabeled and comes in at least 3 different strains and 2 different leaf types depending on where you buy the seed. Sadly the name has been so abused that it can often be difficult to find the real thing.

If you want true Brandywine - the flavor-raved one - then you need to grow Brandywine Pink (Sudduth or Landis).

Dave
ss1114 thanked digdirt2
fusion_power
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dave, Brandywine Red is arguably the only tomato that can truly be called "Brandywine". It originated with the Amish near the Brandywine river in Pennsylvania. The other "Brandywine" aka pink Sudduth/Quisenberry strain carries the name but different heritage.

There are a lot of fake Brandywine tomatoes floating around so make a point of getting the right one.

IMO, the picture above is not consistent with Red Brandywine as I know it. The fruit is just a little bit too round.
ss1114 thanked fusion_power
fungus
8 years ago
Is that a potato leaf in the picture? It's hard to tell. Red Brandywine does not have potato leaf. Shape also doesn't fit. I think it's something else you have there.
ss1114 thanked fungus
ss1114
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

Leaf does look like a potato leaf. I bought it from the Rutgers University plant sale, you'd think that those guys would get the plant labels right and it wouldn't be mixed up. I guess its fine, its a tomato after all :)

Wonder what type it is though. Any tomato detectives able to identify?

p.s. ignore the wall of lemon balm leaves behind the plant - my landscaped area around the vegetable bed is absolutely swamped with lemon balm.

Edit: Here's a link that confuses me even more - Brandywine red with potato leaf?

Brandywine (Red) Potato Leaf #3642 (30 seeds) This is a version of Brandywine that offers red fruit with luscious old-time, red tomato flavor. Plants have potato-shaped leaves and are extremely productive, bearing long harvests of these 10 to 16 ounce fruit. Heirloom from the late 1800's. Indeterminate. 80 days.